Hey friends, just look at the face of Jared Kushner in today's papers…first time he’s been photographed w an expression of disturbance on his usually totally bland face. He & Ivanka packed up and left immediately after the election to distance themselves from Trump’s craziness…
There’s some other folks who had been key White House i…
Hey friends, just look at the face of Jared Kushner in today's papers…first time he’s been photographed w an expression of disturbance on his usually totally bland face. He & Ivanka packed up and left immediately after the election to distance themselves from Trump’s craziness…
There’s some other folks who had been key White House insiders who packed immediately as well. The minute Trump called Rudi Juliani into the Oval Office.
We’ve got a big job ahead to engage our neighbors & in some cases our family members to look at the reality…
Democracy is about attempting to talk w each other without a harassing or aggressive or snide tone of voice. It’s about conversing, which requires listening and finding common ground to build open communication and trust.
We can do this! I’m working in it w neighbors and friends. I hope you are too!
I had not visited my son and family for 2 years due to travel restrictions. They live far away in a very red state. The visit did not entail any blow ups but by the time I returned home I was sick from the stress of being in their world of thought. Nearly any topic we discussed was short-circuited by right-wing talking points: the moon landing never happened, it was staged; abortion is murder, no exceptions, because of the "divine spark"; Democrats are running human trafficking and pedophile rings; "Jews and Hollywood are seats of Satan"; "if you really listen closely to Trump he's really a genius". I was Alice and I fell through the Looking Glass.
There was ever so much more.
I'm home now.
And I'm not going back.
I'm feeling the grief of family and country division.
I'm writing postcards, I've applied to be a poll worker, I'm going to rallies, I'm watching the January 6th Select Committee's hearings. I'm healing myself.
Thank you to my LFAA "family" for the support you don't know you give.
Maryrita, Your vivid description of being separated from your son and family for reasons of health and propaganda or would you call it different realities prompted me to travel with you there and back. The process of separation may take more turns. Thank you for being among us and contributing to our understanding. Salud.
Maryrita, I more than hear you. My two sisters and I have been estranged for the past two+ years, mostly for the same reasons as you write of your own circumstances. The rest of my extended family - save one cousin, bless him! - all tout the Faux Not News line. So thanks back to you and this community here for your invaluable support!
My mid 40s, university of DE educated, trump-supporting sister in law told my parents that it was good that Trump wanted to send us to the moon since we'd never been there. Sadly, my bro (who is 10 yrs older than her) is heavily influenced by her. Thankfully I have sane parents. I feel for you.
I am so sorry for the loss of your son. It is hard to look at people who have fallen into that morass of lies, especially so when it is someone you love and nurtured. I'm glad you find support her in the LFAA family.
Your story reminds me of families split over the Viet Nam war. Kitchen table discussions often ended in argument which sometimes escalated in estrangement. It took many years for full recovery. One side begging the other to look at how things really are. The other side fearful that to do so would risk the very foundations of the “American way of life”. Middle ground had fallen out.
Sorry to hear your story. I identify, as one of my children (raised Catholic) married a Southern Baptist. In many ways she is miserably unhappy but brainwashed to a point that even talking negatively about various of her situations is not allowed. I avoid the bad subjects because I know I will lose her if I do, and I do think at some point in the future, she will need to escape and I want my door open.
I also "lost" my bff of decades to the MAGA side. In a way, it is a positive as I was brainwashed myself--she inherited high 7 or low 8 figure estate, what a change that makes in someone! She could be extremely controlling, dropping gifts for the slightest reason, and not needing to work, could be available to you all the time--I mean, "such a nice, generous person" as she was described, but then I started seeing the racism, elitisms come out. I've heard winning the Lottery often destroys people. Coming into this somewhat hidden fortune (read "the Millionaire Next Door" to get the idea) totally ruined her.
Take good care of yourself Martyrita. Can’t imagine having family members like that- tough enough to just try to be civil to my neighbors! Glad you are here.
Excellent, Carol. Conversation. Dialogue, not haranguing. It takes work at first, and patience, and then the ball starts rolling and you start to get somewhere.
It's far more important to convince the "never voters" that they absolutely need to vote. The Trump base cannot be reached. Voting should be made mandatory, so much could be overcome.
Carol, how do you respond to the charge from Trump supporters that you have the facts wrong? That what you know is a lie? Or that things aren't as bad as you [and I] make it sound? Or a response that goes like this: Yeah, well what about...? I'm seriously looking for advice.
This is what I am running into. My two current examples: Gas prices. Post as much information on the price gouging, nefarious activities of the oil companies, data about the type of petroleum moved through the Keystone pipeline and its prime destination being not in the US or the development of the AR-15 and its intentional battlefield improvements and devastating ballistic characteristics, and I am met with "well, there are experts who say that isn't true" (gas prices) and "it is not a military assault rifle" (AR-15). There is no way to establish that conversation when they refuse to listen to accurate information. Oh, and then I am told not to worry my pretty little head about SCROTUS because they will make the "right" decisions.
Here's my argument for what an AR-15 is: “Imagine you’re a deer. You’re prancing along. You get thirsty. You spot a little brook. You put your little deer lips down to the cool, clear water. BAM! A f—in’ bullet rips off part of your head! Your brains are laying on the ground in little bloody pieces! Now I ask you: Would you give a f— what kind of pants the son of a b—- who shot you was wearing?!” –Mona Lisa Vito (Oscar winner Marisa Tomei) in My Cousin Vinny
I post this with all due respect to the many who have died by AR-15 type weapons.
Hey friends, just look at the face of Jared Kushner in today's papers…first time he’s been photographed w an expression of disturbance on his usually totally bland face. He & Ivanka packed up and left immediately after the election to distance themselves from Trump’s craziness…
There’s some other folks who had been key White House insiders who packed immediately as well. The minute Trump called Rudi Juliani into the Oval Office.
We’ve got a big job ahead to engage our neighbors & in some cases our family members to look at the reality…
Democracy is about attempting to talk w each other without a harassing or aggressive or snide tone of voice. It’s about conversing, which requires listening and finding common ground to build open communication and trust.
We can do this! I’m working in it w neighbors and friends. I hope you are too!
I had not visited my son and family for 2 years due to travel restrictions. They live far away in a very red state. The visit did not entail any blow ups but by the time I returned home I was sick from the stress of being in their world of thought. Nearly any topic we discussed was short-circuited by right-wing talking points: the moon landing never happened, it was staged; abortion is murder, no exceptions, because of the "divine spark"; Democrats are running human trafficking and pedophile rings; "Jews and Hollywood are seats of Satan"; "if you really listen closely to Trump he's really a genius". I was Alice and I fell through the Looking Glass.
There was ever so much more.
I'm home now.
And I'm not going back.
I'm feeling the grief of family and country division.
I'm writing postcards, I've applied to be a poll worker, I'm going to rallies, I'm watching the January 6th Select Committee's hearings. I'm healing myself.
Thank you to my LFAA "family" for the support you don't know you give.
Maryrita, Your vivid description of being separated from your son and family for reasons of health and propaganda or would you call it different realities prompted me to travel with you there and back. The process of separation may take more turns. Thank you for being among us and contributing to our understanding. Salud.
Maryrita, I more than hear you. My two sisters and I have been estranged for the past two+ years, mostly for the same reasons as you write of your own circumstances. The rest of my extended family - save one cousin, bless him! - all tout the Faux Not News line. So thanks back to you and this community here for your invaluable support!
My mid 40s, university of DE educated, trump-supporting sister in law told my parents that it was good that Trump wanted to send us to the moon since we'd never been there. Sadly, my bro (who is 10 yrs older than her) is heavily influenced by her. Thankfully I have sane parents. I feel for you.
Did a doubletake about the moon story, MK...oh, my goodness!
Martyrita, I feel your loss. I'm so sorry, but laud you for taking the steps to begin healing.
I am so sorry for the loss of your son. It is hard to look at people who have fallen into that morass of lies, especially so when it is someone you love and nurtured. I'm glad you find support her in the LFAA family.
Martyrita, wishing you a fast recovery. It sounds like you are doing the right things. I hear your grief.
Your story reminds me of families split over the Viet Nam war. Kitchen table discussions often ended in argument which sometimes escalated in estrangement. It took many years for full recovery. One side begging the other to look at how things really are. The other side fearful that to do so would risk the very foundations of the “American way of life”. Middle ground had fallen out.
Sorry to hear your story. I identify, as one of my children (raised Catholic) married a Southern Baptist. In many ways she is miserably unhappy but brainwashed to a point that even talking negatively about various of her situations is not allowed. I avoid the bad subjects because I know I will lose her if I do, and I do think at some point in the future, she will need to escape and I want my door open.
I also "lost" my bff of decades to the MAGA side. In a way, it is a positive as I was brainwashed myself--she inherited high 7 or low 8 figure estate, what a change that makes in someone! She could be extremely controlling, dropping gifts for the slightest reason, and not needing to work, could be available to you all the time--I mean, "such a nice, generous person" as she was described, but then I started seeing the racism, elitisms come out. I've heard winning the Lottery often destroys people. Coming into this somewhat hidden fortune (read "the Millionaire Next Door" to get the idea) totally ruined her.
Take good care of yourself Martyrita. Can’t imagine having family members like that- tough enough to just try to be civil to my neighbors! Glad you are here.
OMG, so glad I’m too old to travel, I’m spared such a reunion
Excellent, Carol. Conversation. Dialogue, not haranguing. It takes work at first, and patience, and then the ball starts rolling and you start to get somewhere.
It's far more important to convince the "never voters" that they absolutely need to vote. The Trump base cannot be reached. Voting should be made mandatory, so much could be overcome.
Carol, how do you respond to the charge from Trump supporters that you have the facts wrong? That what you know is a lie? Or that things aren't as bad as you [and I] make it sound? Or a response that goes like this: Yeah, well what about...? I'm seriously looking for advice.
This is what I am running into. My two current examples: Gas prices. Post as much information on the price gouging, nefarious activities of the oil companies, data about the type of petroleum moved through the Keystone pipeline and its prime destination being not in the US or the development of the AR-15 and its intentional battlefield improvements and devastating ballistic characteristics, and I am met with "well, there are experts who say that isn't true" (gas prices) and "it is not a military assault rifle" (AR-15). There is no way to establish that conversation when they refuse to listen to accurate information. Oh, and then I am told not to worry my pretty little head about SCROTUS because they will make the "right" decisions.
Here's my argument for what an AR-15 is: “Imagine you’re a deer. You’re prancing along. You get thirsty. You spot a little brook. You put your little deer lips down to the cool, clear water. BAM! A f—in’ bullet rips off part of your head! Your brains are laying on the ground in little bloody pieces! Now I ask you: Would you give a f— what kind of pants the son of a b—- who shot you was wearing?!” –Mona Lisa Vito (Oscar winner Marisa Tomei) in My Cousin Vinny
I post this with all due respect to the many who have died by AR-15 type weapons.
According to Dr Guerrero's testimony yesterday, that's what happens to children's heads.
Yes, Beth. Wish it would've moved the needle.
Here's a more nuanced argument: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/06/second-amendment-gun-regulations/661208/?utm_source=feed
Good article, thanks for link.
You mean Kushner, the rotten slumlord who just made a mysterious $2BN sneaky deal with the house of Saud?